NIKON STRIKES BACK! Nikon Z9 autofocus update.
2023 ж. 30 Қар.
26 719 Рет қаралды
In October, Nikon introduced firmware v4.1 for the Nikon Z9. Probably the biggest news is the animal eye autofocus, which has now also been optimized for birds. I have tested this bird autofocus with several lenses and would like to share my experiences here.
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You can buy the Z9 here (Affiliate Links): B&H Photo: bhpho.to/49YeGbe
Glad Nikon catching up. Thanks for the comparison. Looking forward to the z8 firmware update
Thanks, me too!
Thanks Fabian After version 3.0 My Z9 is performing great with AF and after 4.0 the acquisition seemed a bit better, however version 4.1 and using all area AF with 3D tracking there is a big improvement in all areas - to be honest even Auto Area on its on performed great with backlit subjects and I rarely hit my 3D button. I only use a smaller area when there is a lot going on and that works great. I have to say that after trying the R5 I never found a better experience maybe the same. I have set various focus modes on my function buttons and even the DISP button and there is no need for me to fiddle about trying to find the right AF mode - I am able to get the shot practically all the time and the AF rarely goes to the background now not like before - I applaud Nikon for keeping my nearly 2 year old camera up to date (it’s like I purchased a new one yesterday), especially with all the new features added since firmware 1.0 and I just love the rock steady VR especially with 8k video (never had an overheat sign).
Yes, it’s really amazing how Nikon rolls out one update after the other that improve the Z9 dramatically
Love the commitment to improve performance through firmware updates.
Definitely
I suggest use of full auto area. Two times when the system lost bird in example clips were because bird left smaller box for a short period of time. Use the full focus area.
It’s a tradeoff. I agree that it’s easier too lose the subject with a zone, but it’s also easier to acquire it
Ive owned the z9 since the fw 2.0, now its best if you use the z9 in auto area AF with subject detection of your choice, it identifies much smaller ones in this mode than any other modes surprisingly
Thanks for sharing your experiences!
Thank you. Getting the 600mm 6.3 pf for Christmas for my Z8. Hoping the Z8 update comes early in the new year.
Thanks! Nikon was a bit vague so far. I‘m also hoping for Q1 2024
@brianlemke6017 Did you get the 600PF? How has it been with the new Z8 firmware?
A lot of wildlife people suggest using the largest custom box, and then doing a hand-off to 3D tracking (mapped to its own dedicated button, 3D Tracking + AF-ON) once the subject is acquired & locked. Is this still the preferred technique? Or are we now just better off in Auto-Area AF? I have the Z8 but there have been a few fw updates for the 9 so I don't believe the 8 and the 9 are exactly the same in their AF systems (yet).
I found myself doing the hand-off far less with the new firmware
Great comparison. What focus mode were you using on the R5 with that square box in the center? Is that using animal eye-AF? What do you have your back buttons set to for focusing?
That was zone AF. I usually switched to eye after as soon as I had focussed on the subject
Great comparison video, very sharp! Do you think that, in term of subject recognition, the z9 4.1 is equal to r6 mark 2?
I could not do a side by side comparison. But since I felt that the R5 was still slightly better in some situations, I’m pretty sure that the Z9 is still not on R6 II level in terms of subject recognition
@@FabianFoppNaturephotography thanks!
My Z9 with 180-600mm and 800mm pf (both at f6.3) still has a bit of inconsistency in AF after firmware 4.10
Thanks for the feedback! Did you feel an improvement?
Thanks for the update on the new Z9 firmware. You mentioned Z8 is also getting a Bird Eye autofocus firmware update next month - where did you get that information? Thanks.
Thanks! Here: petapixel.com/2023/10/03/nikons-fourth-firmware-upgrade-for-the-z9-camera-adds-bird-detection/
Thanks@@FabianFoppNaturephotography . It will be good to see this updated firmware on Z8. This note you shared says it will happen in sometime in the first half of 2024, but did not see mention of it happening next month though. But well, let us wait and see! Hope we get it soon!
@@pranaysinha886 I think he said "comming mohnts ......not mohnt (but not sure )
Thank you@@kaawe100 ..well, we will have to wait anyway...
Yeah sorry, I said months. Maybe my pronounciation was not the best
Great video. What did you think of the 600mm 6.3 pf, Fabian?
Thanks! The Review of the Z600 PF will come very soon 😊
You can turn z9 af button to area mode af-on (3d mode) just like canon in your video..better tracking bird the whole frame too.😊
Yes, I actually did that. But with the new firmware I felt like I almost never needed to anymore
Looking at the Bird videos it seems the Nikon doesn't acquire focus if the bird is flying towards the camera as the camera focuses on the background object, but if it's flying left to right, no problem. For Canon, the bird gets lost in when the the birds flies in front of tree branches, but immediately acquires with a dark background.
It might be that the different algorithms recognize it differently from front or from the side
Any bird autofocus updates for the Z8?
According to Nikon this will come in 2024
My Z8 waiting for this update 😉
I think Nikon mentioned first half of 2024
Danke Fabian! Fotografiere eher die metallenen Vögel, sprich Kampfjets. Auch hier ist die FW 4.1 ggb 4.0 ein grosser Schritt nach vorne!
Danke fürs Feedback
when I used d500 it would either a) focus where I wanted it to, cuz that's where I put the focus area at b) misfocus, cuz I put the focus area not where I wanted to focus due to human error. no other outcome. simple. With the modern AI technology, suddenly it's less about where I put the focus point and more about what the camera decides to focus at. This still works well for me with the better models, particularly cuz I was never the most proficient in precisely following flying birds or reacting to their quick decisions. But at times it is frustrating as hell. I keep nostalgically looking back at the dslr times when I was always in full power, in comparison to these moments of having god-like power followed by being powerless to AI's random decisions.
You can always deactivate the subject recognition („AI autofocus“) and use a single point AF - just as you did with your D500. Die you try that with your Z9?
Not to steer you away from this channel, but definitely check out Steve Perry's channel / Autofocus vids on this particular topic.
Man. Can the Z8 get an update like this???
Nikon said that it will get it in first half of 2024
Cross sensors are more sensitive to light and they lock faster and more precisely. Guess which bodies have cross sensors?
For example DSLRs 😊 but then I still prefer my Canon R5 or a Nikon Z9 AF
Well if you really want to look cool, you would shoot a Z9. Im a sport photographer for 5 years and love the Nikon Z9. When I walk up to the sidelines, the players and coaches just move aside as they see me coming with that Z9 and hugemongus 400mm 2.8. By the way, I really like your Tee shirt!!
Thanks. I would honestly prefer to be a bit more inkognito
Nikon Z9 firmware 4.10 has easily leaped shared ahead of Sony and Canon in terms of AF recognition and acquisition in bird subject detection for birds in flight and subjects in front of busy backgrounds. When I'm bird subject detection, Auto Area AF mode is the only AF mode you need and is far superior to any wide area or 3D AF modes. You issue on the 4.10 firmware is you're using the wrong AF mode. Use only Auto Area AF mode now in Bird subject detection
I tried both the wide area and auto area. In my situation, the wide area did a better job (but still not as good in recognition as the R5)
@@FabianFoppNaturephotography then I'd say it's the 12 inches behind the camera. I know almost a dozen people that shoot the R5 that say the Z9 is noticably superior to the R5 at this point with some making a full switch to the Z9. A1 his too. But I'mthe end I always say shoot with what works best for you. The Z9 just might not be the camera you work best with and that's ok too
Funny, most people I know prefer the R5. So I don’t think it’s me that is the problem
@@eric00214So have you tried the Sony A1? Most of the reading I've done is the A1 is still better.
Sounds like a lot of deep search and excuses to find how good the Z9 autofocus is.... it took a year to come close to the R5, which is not even close to other Canon bodies (viz 7:15). So we are comparing a Nikon 'flagship' "Z9" to a low level Canon? Price of R6 Mrk II THAT TRACKS correctly vs Z9 ?? !! How long has the Z9 been out?? Just barely catching up.
Some people seem to always complain… in spring some people said that I‘m bashing the Z9 and now that it tracks very good (and in some cases better than the R6) it’s also not „objective“
As a Sony A1 user I can't agree that it is tops, especially in video mode. My ZV-E1 is better, blows my mind that the A1 is so crap compared to far cheaper cameras.
Yes, I heard that in video mode the performance of the A1 is really not that good
Sony is still tops (it just works, no muss, no fuss) but nothing will be 100% all of the time.
For Sony I found that it really depends on the camera you use. The A7 IV was quite disappointing, the A1 on the other hand very good (maybe comparable to a Canon R6 II?)
@@FabianFoppNaturephotography Try the a7rv or a6700 - not stacked sensors and suffer evf blackout etc but top notch subject detection and AF - especially on the low end a6700.
To be honest my Z9 with latest FW is far better than my Sony a1!!
@@marleenvandam6931 Ha-Ha.🙂You use the A1? But seriously. I'm happy for you. Glad to see Nikon stepp'n up for their loyal customers shell'n out their hard earned bucks. I'm still shooting the D810 for 6 years now. Hoping to upgrade in 2024. Considering probably getting all mirrorless lenses, I'm go with what is best at the time. Might try the A1 but probably the 7R5 , Canon R5 & the Z9. I really only need 10-12 fps but want the highest keeper rate possible. Probably rent each for 2 weeks unless they give one to try. 10 fps & if the FX AF is accurate, something like that in a Z7 type of camera & I'm in if it's AF is accurate.
This is no longer the case with Nikon's continued and significant fw updates. And I'd even even argue that Canon has an edge over Sony now. But honestly we have reached the point this past year where ALL of these amazing systems will absolutely get the job done, and we're splitting hairs now.
But that camera looks like a brick!! 🧱
They are really quite heavy that is true.
Yes, I also don’t like the weight. The R3 is much lighter
I just wish the R3 was a bigger file size. I have two R3’s but don’t use them.